here's an update on the april 7-10th spring-training trip john reel & i are organizing to san antonio. right now we have six guys and are looking for six-eight more.
samsbl league president skip bradley has built us into their schedule. we'll play 5 nine-inning games in three days against four over-38 teams and one over-48 team on great fields. he said he wanted to make it "as tournament-like as possible." (he also said that they're thinking of giving us going away T-shirts that say, "We left San Antonio 0-5.")
john also wants to make this trophy-bearing experience - so the city that wins the most games gets the trophy. (san antonio is coming up here the third week in sept. for some games - and more competition for the trophy.)
weather permitting (it has been sunny and in the 70s for 9 of the past 12 days in that time period over the past four years) - here's the ordeal:
4/7/05: thurs. night, 7 p.m., incarnate word college field vs. over-38 tornado. 4/8/05 fri 2 p.m. sanchez spencer (where babe ruth is rumored to have played & the field that samsbl took over and now owns; has lights, stands for about 800-1,000 spectators) vs. over-48 yankees (alas, babe ruth will not be playing); 4/8/05 fri. 7 p.m. VJ Keefe vs. over-38 giants (on former minor league field of AA Dodgers, with 3,000-seats where fernando valenzuela and orel hersheiser once pitched); 4/9/05 sat. 10 a.m. sanchez spencer vs. over-38 team (tbd)* 4/9/05 sat. 2 a.m. sanchez spencer vs. over-38 team (tbd)*
*not sure right now which over-38 teams we'll face on 4/9 - but have a hunch one will be the msbl champion rangers, which is president skip bradley's team.
after 5 p.m. on saturday, it's touring time: san antonio offers many fine restaurants, the rivewalk, jazz, salsa, mariachi and texas-two step places, the spurs, museums, fine golf, sea world and fiesta texas - a huge amusement park with one of the biggest wooden roller coasters in the u.s.
we're going with a squad of 12-15. so if you're 37 or over and would like to go here's the deal:
two steps:
1. send me $50 deposit - to be used toward umpire fees- address is 11 ver planck st. albany 12206. (questions call me at 459-6854) umps are $70 each for each game - we'll have 2 per game - for cost of $700. samsbl is not charging us for field use.
2. make your own flight/hotel arrangements or contact plaza travel in latham (785-3338). plaza has agreed to help us arrange flights and rooms. flights are on delta or northwestern for $350 round trip (flights often about $400 if booked individually) and we'll be staying in 4-star hotels in downtown san antonio (either the crown plaza or the st. anthony, about a 5-minute walk from each other. each hotel is about 7 miles from the various fields.) hotel costs normally $200+ a night - but plaza has gotten a price of $125. for a double for each night. (so that's $62.50 a guy if they double up.)
when you call plaza, ask for agent jean gagnon, who's handling the trip. she'll arrange for your tickets and, unless you plan to go with someone (my wife is going with friends to visit with artists there and see museums), jean will arrange for you to share a room with someone.obviously, we're trying to get an even number of players to go.
that's it guys. it'll be fun - and a great way to loosen up for the upcoming season. a real spring training - we'll be sore afterwards - yes, they do have hot tubs and lots of margaritas.
here's an update on the april 7-10th spring-training trip john reel & i are organizing to san antonio. right now we have six guys and are looking for six-eight more.
samsbl league president skip bradley has built us into their schedule. we'll play 5 nine-inning games in three days against four over-38 teams and one over-48 team on great fields. he said he wanted to make it "as tournament-like as possible." (he also said that they're thinking of giving us going away T-shirts that say, "We left San Antonio 0-5.")
john also wants to make this trophy-bearing experience - so the city that wins the most games gets the trophy. (san antonio is coming up here the third week in sept. for some games - and more competition for the trophy.)
weather permitting (it has been sunny and in the 70s for 9 of the past 12 days in that time period over the past four years) - here's the ordeal:
4/7/05: thurs. night, 7 p.m., incarnate word college field vs. over-38 tornado. 4/8/05 fri 2 p.m. sanchez spencer (where babe ruth is rumored to have played & the field that samsbl took over and now owns; has lights, stands for about 800-1,000 spectators) vs. over-48 yankees (alas, babe ruth will not be playing); 4/8/05 fri. 7 p.m. VJ Keefe vs. over-38 giants (on former minor league field of AA Dodgers, with 3,000-seats where fernando valenzuela and orel hersheiser once pitched); 4/9/05 sat. 10 a.m. sanchez spencer vs. over-38 team (tbd)* 4/9/05 sat. 2 a.m. sanchez spencer vs. over-38 team (tbd)*
*not sure right now which over-38 teams we'll face on 4/9 - but have a hunch one will be the msbl champion rangers, which is president skip bradley's team.
after 5 p.m. on saturday, it's touring time: san antonio offers many fine restaurants, the rivewalk, jazz, salsa, mariachi and texas-two step places, the spurs, museums, fine golf, sea world and fiesta texas - a huge amusement park with one of the biggest wooden roller coasters in the u.s.
we're going with a squad of 12-15. so if you're 37 or over and would like to go here's the deal:
two steps:
1. send me $50 deposit - to be used toward umpire fees- address is 11 ver planck st. albany 12206. (questions email me at mhart2@nycap.rr.com or call at 459-6854) umps are $70 each for each game - we'll have 2 per game - for cost of $700. samsbl is not charging us for field use.
2. make your own flight/hotel arrangements or contact plaza travel in latham (785-3338). plaza has agreed to help us arrange flights and rooms. flights are on delta or northwestern for $350 round trip (flights often about $400 if booked individually) and we'll be staying in 4-star hotels in downtown san antonio (either the crown plaza or the st. anthony, about a 5-minute walk from each other. each hotel is about 7 miles from the various fields.) hotel costs normally $200+ a night - but plaza has gotten a price of $125. for a double for each night. (so that's $62.50 a guy if they double up.)
when you call plaza, ask for agent jean gagnon, who's handling the trip. she'll arrange for your tickets and, unless you plan to go with someone (my wife is going with friends to visit with artists there and see museums), jean will arrange for you to share a room with someone.obviously, we're trying to get an even number of players to go.
that's it guys. it'll be fun - and a great way to loosen up for the upcoming season. a real spring training - we'll be sore afterwards - yes, they do have hot tubs and lots of margaritas.
